Work feeding device



y 2, 1950 w. s. REYNOLDS EFI'AL 2,506,175

7 WORK FEEDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS WAR/Pf/V s. REYNOLDS W JOHN A. ram/v0? BY r ATTOR EY May 2, 1950 w. s. REYNOLDS El 'AL 2,505,175

WORK FEEDING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 INVENTORS WAR/P EA/ .s. RE r/vows JOHN H. rue/v0? May 2, 1950 w. REYNOLDS ETAL WORK FEEDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 9 INVENTORS M f A+Toim WARREN S. REYNOLDS BY JOHN R. TURNER Patented May 2, 1950 UNETED STATES PATENT i F F CE WORK FEEDING DEVICE corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1947, Serial No. 765,510

15 Claims.

This invention relates to means for loading workpieces into a continuously moving conveyor chain in which the workpieces are conducted through various stations at which different operations are performed. A machine of this general type is shown in the patent to Johnson, No. 2,403,286, July 2, 1946. The particular machine illustrated in the drawings is adapted for the handling of headed .22 caliber rimfire shells, but the invention is obviously susceptible to use in the handling of a variety of other articles.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a machine embodying one form of the present invention. The section conforms generally to the line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail horizontal section of the switch control.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 6-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective of the shell transfer block and retainer.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional elevation of a.fragment of Fig. 1, showing the shell lifter in retracted position.

The machine comprises a fixed column or standard I3 projecting upwardly from a suitable base, not shown. Mounted for rotation about the fixed standard i3 is a turret, identified generally by numeral l2. Secured to and revolving with the turret [2 are a plurality of article or workpiece delivering tubular members 2%. Suitable devices for introducing workpieces, such as rimfire shells, into the tubular members 23 in column and in head-down position as shown in a co-pending application of the same inventors, Serial No. 770,706, filed August 26, 1947. The turret l2 may comprise an upwardly extending collar or boss 50 having a suitable bearing support from the standard IS, a horizontally extending platelike portion El, and a depending peripheral skirt portion 52. means, such as bolts 53, is a sprocket wheel 54, the teeth 55 of which are engaged by the links of a driven chain 55. Appropriately spaced on chain 56 are arms 57 comprising apertures 58 which serve as holding receptacles for the articles which are conveyed by the chain. It will be obvious that sprocket wheel 5d, turret l2, and all parts associated therewith, participate in the continuous movement of the conveyor chain 56.

The means for transferring workpieces from Secured to the plate 5| by suitable 2 one of the tubular members 23 into a chain receptacle 58 will now be described. There are preferably a plurality of such means, symmetrically and uniformly spaced upon the turret l2. In general, a description of one will suiiice.

Said tubular member 23 terminates adjacent the upper face of the sprocket wheel 54, the lowermost article therein being in alignment with an enlarged portion 59 of a radial slot 60 extending vertically through the sprocket wheel. The lower ends of the tubes 23 may be supported in a flat ring 5M secured to sprocket wheel 54. The outer end portion M of slot 66 is in radial alignment with receptacle 58 on that portion of chain 56 which has come into complete engagement with sprocket wheel E i, and said receptacle 58 is so positioned with respect to the sprocket chain links that it is also in circumferential alignment with the end portion 6! of the slot. The lowermost article in tube 23 comes to rest upon the top of a block 62 in slot 68, said block forming part of a duplex transfer device separately illustrated in Fig. 8. For simplicity of manufacture and convenience of operation, the shell transfer devices, as well as certain tool holders to be hereinafter described, are arranged in groups, the members of each group being joined together for movement by a single actuator. The groups illustrated each comprise two members-thus each shell transfer device comprises two blocks 62 upstanding from a transverse plate 63 secured to or integral with a depending body portion 64. The body portion 6% is apertured to receive an arbor 65 of a cam following roller 66. The lower and outer margin of each block 62 may comprise an undercut til adapted to receive the rim or flange of a headed article or workpiece, such as a rimfire shell. Fig. 1 shows the shell transfer device in its outermost position-a workpiece A rests upon the top of block 62. Fig. 7 shows the transfer device in a radially retracted position to which it has been moved by means to be presently described. The lowermost shell has dropped in front of block 62. When the transfer device is again moved to the Fig. 1 position, the rim of the shell in front of block 62 is engaged in the undercut 6? and the shell is advanced to the position A (Fig. 1). In doing so, its rim comes to be engaged in the T-shaped guides fill of a retainer piece 69 held in a recess in the table 5i and upon which the shell has dropped when the transfer blocks 62 retire to the Fig. 7 position. Upon the next reciprocation of the shell transfer device, the shell in the position A will, by contact with the shell engaging the front of block 62, be thrust forward into vertical alignment with a shell receptacle 58 and with the lifting device to be presently described (see Fig. 9).

The means for reciprocating the shell transfor device may be constructed as follows: Cam following roller 66 overlies a table 61 secured to the fixed standard l 3. To the peripheral portion of table 5? there is secured an upstanding cam piece 68 serving as an outer guide for roller 56. Likewise, secured to table 5'! is an arcuate faced inner block 69 serving as an inner guide for cam roller 66 during the major portion of its inactive movement. The inner cam roller controlling surface, which effects the advance of the transfer device, is supplied by a lever w pivoted at the top of a depending arbor ll. As clearly seen in Fig. 2, the outward movement of roller 55 and the associated transfer device takes place under the control of that part of cam 68 and cam Ill indicated at '52. The roller is thrust radially outwardly by engagement with the lever, this movemerit being permitted by a counterpart surface on cam 68, but should such outward movement of the transfer device be obstructed, by misplacement of a workpiece or otherwise, the lever 68 is enabled to yield and preclude a smashup. Moreover, such yielding movement interrupts the operation of the machine, permitting the removal of the obstruction. The means by which this is accomplished may be as follows, reference being made to Fig. 3: To the lower end of arbor H is secured a short arm "E3, which is engaged by the head 14 of a plunger '55 aligned with the operating button it of a conventional microswitch in a circuit controlling the motor which drives chain 55. contact with arm 13 by suitable means, such as spring ll, with sumcient force to retain arm (3 and with it cam lever 19 in normal position during an ordinary shell transfer. But, if the movement of the shell transfer device is ohstructed, spring ll will yield, displacing plunger 15, and, through switch it, stop the operation of the machine.

The means for lifting the shells upwardly from the outermost position to which they are moved by the transfer device above-described may comprise a lifting plunger l8 suitably supported in a bearingin skirt 52 and moved vertically upward and downward by a cam follower l9 which engages in a cam track 89 secured to the fixed standard i3. Like the shell transfer devices, the

lifting plungers are preferably arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being connected by a crosshead 8! (Fig. 6) which receives the arbor 82 of cam follower roller l9. A lifter 18 is shown in its lowermost position in Fig. 7. The workpiece to be lifted stands directly upon the head of thelifter, having been moved into this position in the manner heretofore described. A part of the periphery of the workpiece stands closely adjacent the surface of the end portioniil of the sprocket wheel slot 68, which portion is enlarged to permit the upward passage of the shell rim. A lifter is shown in its uppermost position in Fig. 1. The workpiece A has been moved upwardly entirely through the sprocket wheel and its head occupies a recess in the underside of the receptacle arm 5?. Lifters it remain in elevated positions throughout the remainder of the ,arc of contact of chain 56 with sprocket wheel 54, serving as a support for the workpieces until such pieces are received by an elongated plate associated with the receding reach of chain 56. A fragment of such a plate is shown at 565, Fig. 5.

In the loading of rimfire shells, the empty primed shell, as placed in the conveyor chain in the manner herein described, will first receive a powder charge and subsequently a bullet which fits closely in the mouth portion of the shell. It

is desirable that any folds, irregularities, or in- Plunger head M is urged into dentations in the shell mouth be ironed out, and that the shell mouth.- be slightly expanded to enable the easy insertion of a bullet. Devices for performing the shell mouth openin operation, operating in conjunction with the chain loading mechanism heretofore described, constitute a part of this invention, and may be constructed as follows:

In vertical alignment with each shell lifting plunger 18 is a mouth opening tool 83. These tools, like the lifting plungers, are connected in pairs, as by a crosshead 3 joined to a rod 85. Associated with each rod 85 is a cam roller 3E received in a cam track ill in the fixed frame it. Each mouth opening tool 83 comprises an end section 882 of reduced diameter having a rounded end adapted to easily enter the mouth of a shell, and the design of cam 81 is such that, as shown in Fig. 9, each tool 83 descends until the rounded end of its tip 33! enters the shell mouth just before the associated lifter i8 begins its upward movement. Thereafter, tools 33 and lifters E8 move into the Fig. 1 position, in which the mouth of the shell A is opened slightly by its engagement with inclined surface 832 of tool :33.

The operation of the machine may be summarized as follows:

Shells delivered in head-down position, one at a time through the passages 23, come to rest on the tops of transfer blocks 62 and, when such transfer blocks are retracted, by the inward movement of cam roller $6, drop into slots fill in the sprocket wheel 54. After the first reciprocation of the transfer block, one shell stands in the A position between the end of the transfer block and the lifting plunger it, its rim being held in the undercut in retainer 69. The transfer block is advanced at the time when lifter L8 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 9. Immediately thereafter, lifter E8 is elevated by the engagement of roller '58 with an active surface of cam track 86, thrusting the shell upward over tip 83! of mouth opening tool 83, and into chain receptacle 58. Thereafter, lifter l8 and mouth opener-'83 are brought substantially to the Fig. 1 position, holding the shell between them, and so remain until the chain receptacle 58 approaches the pointat which it recedes from the turret and the sprocket 54. At this time, mouth opening tool 83 is retracted, to clear the mouthof the shell, but lifter 18 remains elevated. As the receptacle 58 recedes from the sprocket, the shell head is received on a fixed supporting plate associated with the reach of the conveyor chain, which carries the shells to the next operating station or turret.

It will be obvious that the inventions are susceptible to embodiment in other forms than the one which has, for the purpose of illustration, been shown and described in detail.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for loading workpieces into receptacles carried by a conveyor chain comprising a sprocket wheel engaged and rotated by said chain,

a workpiece delivery tube moving in unison with said sprocket wheel, a radial slot in saidsprocket wheel adapted to receive workpieces one at a time from said delivery tube, means for transferring workpieces one at a time radially through said slot'into a position in alignment with said receptacle'on said chain, and means for elevating said workpieces out of said slots and into. said receptacles.

2. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a .continuously moving conveyor chain comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, article containing means carried by said turret, means carried by said turret for transferring articles one at a time from said article containing means into vertical alignment with one of said receptacles, and means carriedby said turret for thrusting articles vertically into said receptacles.

.3. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with said receptacles, a single cam associated with said fixed standard adapted to actuate said article transferring means in succession, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively With said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, actuating means for said article lifting means comprising a single cam means associated with said fixed standard and adapted to actuate said lifting means successively and in synchronism with the movement of said article transferring means.

4. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, an article containing means carried by said turret, a radial slot in said turret associated with said article containing means, an article transfer device in said radial slot adapted when in advance position to support an article in the article containing means, means for retracting said transfer device for enabling an article to enter said slot, means for advancing said transfer device to move an article radially in said slot into vertical alignment with on of said conveyor chain receptacles, and means for interrupting the operation of the machine in the event that the advance of said transfer device is obstructed.

5. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, an article containing means carried by said turret, a radial slot in said turret associated with said article containing means, an article transfer device in said radial slot adapted when in advanced position to support an article in the article containing means, means for retracting said transfer device for enabling an article to enter said slot, means for advancing said transfer device to move an article radially in said slot into vertical alignment with one of said conveyor chain receptacles, said advancing means comprising a cam adapted to be displaced when movement of the transfer device is obstructed, and means controlled by such displacement of the cam for interrupting the operation of the machine.

6. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, an article containing means carried by said turret, a radial slot in said turret associated with said article containing means, an article transfer device in said radial slot adapted when in advanced position to support an article in the article containing means, means for retracting said transfer device for enabling an article to enter said slot, means for advancing said transfer device to move an article radially in said slot into vertical alignment with one of said conveyor chain receptacles, said advancing means comprising a pivoted cam arranged to rotate on its pivot when the movement of said transfer device is obstructed, and means controlled by the pivotal movement of said cam for interrupting the operation of the machine.

7. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with said receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, a plurality of tools associated respectively with said article lifting plungers and adapted to engage articles as they are lifted into said receptacles by said plungers, and cam means associate-d with said fixed standard for actuating said transfer devices, said lifting plungers and said tools in synchronism.

8. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving cronveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with said receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, a plurality of tools associated respectively with said article lifting plungers and adapted to engage articles as they are lifted into said receptacles by said plungers, cam means associated with said fixed standard for actuating said transfer devices, said lifting plungers and said tools in synchronism, one of said cam means being adapted to yield when the motion of parts actuated thereby is obstructed, and means controlled by the yielding movement of said cam means for interrupting the operation of the machine.

9. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into article retainer devices associated therewith and in subsequent operations to move said articles into alignment with said receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers adapted to receive and support articles displaced from said article retaining means and to lift such articles into said receptacles, and.

com means associated with said fixed standard for actuating said transfer means and said lifting plungers in synchronism.

10. Apparatus for loading articles into recaptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, said apparatus comprising a turret continuous'ly rotating with said chain, a, fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality-of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles from said articlecontaining means into positions in alignment with said conveyor chain receptacles, said transfer devices being arranged in groups, a single actuating means for the transferdevices of each group, and cam means associated with said fixed standard adapted to sequentially displace the several ac-- tuating means.

11. Apparatus for loading articles into recep tacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, .a plurality of article containing carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, a plurality of tools associated respectively with said lifting plungers and adapted to engage and operate upon articles lifted into said chain receptacles by said lifting plungers, said transfer members, lifting plungers and tools being arranged in connected groups, actuating means common to each of said groups, and cam means associated with said fixed standard for sequentially and ynchronously dis placing the actuating means of eachset.

12. Apparatus for loading cylindrical flanged workpieces into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain, comprising ;a turret, means for continuously rotating said turret comprising a. sprocket rig-idly secured thereto and engaged by said chain, a plurality of workpiece holding tubes moving with said turret and terminating adjacent said sprocket, a radial slot in said sprocket, an article transfer device-extending into said slot to support an article in said tube and adapted for displacement to enable such article to enter said slot,.means for advancing said transfer device to move said'article within said slot to a position in alignment with one of said conveyor chain receptacles, and an article retainer associated with said slotand comprising a T-shaped groove adapted to receive the flange. of an article advanced in said slot by said transfer device. a

'13. Apparatus for loading articles intoreceptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprisinga turiret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality ofarticle containing means carried by saidturret, a plurality of article transfer devicesassociated re.- spectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with said receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, and a plurality of tools associated respectively with said article lifting plungers, said tools being provided with article guiding tips of reduced diameter adapted to enter and guide themovement of articles in position to be lifted by said plungers.

14. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving conveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a fixed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing meanscarried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted totransfer articles therefrom into alignment with said recep a plurality of article l in plun er as ia respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift arti le into a eptacles, a plurality of tools associated respectively withsaid article lifting plungers, said tools being provided with article guiding tips of reduceddiameter adapted to enter and guide the movement of articles in position to be lifted by said plungers, and cam means for first lowering said tool tips into articles upon said lifting plungers and thereafter elevating said tools and said plungers in such timed relation that said tools perform an operation on said articles.

15. Apparatus for loading articles into receptacles carried by a continuously moving Conveyor chain and concomitantly performing an operation on said articles, said apparatus comprising a turret continuously rotated by said chain, a f xed standard supporting said turret, a plurality of article containing means carried by said turret, a plurality of article transfer-devices associated respectively with said article containing means and adapted to transfer articles therefrom into alignment with said receptacles, a plurality of article lifting plungers associated respectively with said article transferring means and adapted to lift articles into said receptacles, a plurality oftools associated respectively with said article lifting plungers, said tools being provided with article guiding tips of reduced diameter adapted to enter and guide the movement of articles in position to be lifted by said plungers, and cam means for first lowering said tool tips into articles upon said lifting plungers and thereafter elevating said tools and said plungers in such timed relation that said tools perform an operation on said-articles as an incident to lifting articles into said receptacles,

WARREN S. REYNOLDS. JOHN R. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 1,479,935 Smith Jan. 8, 1924 1,928,934 Green Oct. 3, 1933 2,109,391 Lauck Feb.,22, 1938 2,403,286 Johnson ,July 2, 19,46 

